MIRRA – Norwegian Tradition Reimagined

A powerhouse of Norwegian artists distil ancestral folk songs into meditative modern masterpieces.

Experience the profound artistry of a Norwegian supergroup as they weave traditional music with contemporary evocations of the north. Led by acclaimed Hardanger fiddler Benedicte Maurseth, she brings together an exceptional ensemble featuring Morten Qvenild, Mats Eilertsen, and Håkon Stene.

At the heart of this performance lies the Hardanger fiddle, a seventeenth-century instrument considered the soul of traditional Norwegian music. With eight strings-four sympathetic strings that create remarkable resonance and chordal possibilities-this distinctive instrument produces sounds both ancient and strikingly contemporary in Maurseth's hands.

Recently commissioned by the revered Kronos Quartet, Maurseth draws inspiration from her childhood in Norway's remote northern mountains and vast plateaus. Performing her haunting new album MIRRA, she transforms age-old traditional tunes through the sounds and survival patterns of reindeer and other mountain creatures, creating music that speaks to both heritage and the natural world's timeless rhythms.

This is where Norway's musical traditional meets its future, with four masters and a 400-year-old fiddle rewriting the rules of what tradition means today. 

Praise for Benedicte Maurseth

'Although steeped in tradition and rooted in the region, Maurseth approaches the Hardanger fiddle not as a historical artefact, but as a richly communicative voice, speaking to the present with rhythmic vitality, melodic suppleness and harmonic complexity.' - The Wire

'★★★★★' - BBC Music Magazine

'It's Maurseth, embracing the past and touching the ground that has formed who she is. The result is gently majestic.' - Roots World

'★★★★★ - Her interspersed contributions on Hardanger fiddle are as entrancing as ever, whether channelling traditional music or improvising. The imaginative integration of all elements in a sort of propulsive acoustic ecosystem is uniquely and irresistibly stunning.' - Songlines

Tickets

Standard $55 ($45 Concession)

A Transaction Fee between $4 and $8.50 applies to orders made online and by phone. Delivery Fees may also apply. A ticket limit of six is in place online to ensure fair ticket access for all. Want to bring a bigger party? Call our Box Office during business hours on (03) 9699 3333 to book.

Artists

Benedicte Maurseth hardanger fiddle
Mats Eilertsen bass
Håkon Mørch Stene percussion
Morten Qvenild piano

Program

Benedicte Maurseth
Mirra
Dagar med vind
Kalven reiser seg
Sommarbeite
Kvitkrull
Jaktmarsj
Nysno over reinlav
Simleflokk under manen

About the artist

Benedicte Maurseth, an esteemed Hardanger fiddler, composer, and author, is a distinguished and award-winning performer. She has apprenticed under master fiddler Knut Hamre for several decades, specialising in the traditional music of Hardanger, Norway. Maurseth has toured extensively both in Norway and internationally, collaborating with numerous renowned artists across various artistic genres, including Jon Fosse, Kronos Quartet, Merilyn Crispell, and many more. Maurseth has composed multiple commissioned works for prestigious groups such as Kronos Quartet, Prague Music Ensemble, Ensemble neoN, Marvel Studios, and the National Theatre in Norway.

Her solo album, Hárr (2022), received the Nordic Music Prize and was recognised by The Guardian as one of the ten best folk music albums globally in 2022. The same year, her non-fiction book Fiddlesisters was published, offering a groundbreaking exploration of female fiddlers from the 18th century to the present. This work, along with a concert performance and museum exhibition of the same title, earned her the Folkelarm Award as Folk Musician of the Year in 2023, as well as the SFF prize for her significant contributions to Norwegian folk music.